Thursday 20 October 2011 03.32 EDT
First published on Thursday 20 October 2011 03.32 EDT

Children's book festival, London

Some of the best-loved children's authors, including Francesca Simon, creator of the Horrid Henry series, and Caroline Lawrence, author of The Western Mysteries, will be giving talks and fun workshops at the inaugural Word Up! children's literature festival in Dulwich, south London. Some events are sold out but as of today there was still availability for actor Mackenzie Crook introducing his debut, self-illustrated book, The Windvale Sprites; hugely popular kids' stand-up comedian James Campbell; and John Hegley's session of bonkers stories and poems. The weekend kicks off with an opening procession featuring music and puppets. • 01803 867373, wordupfestival.co.uk, 22-24 October, Alleyn's School, Townley Road. Tickets £4-£6 for most day events and £8-£10 for evening events

Words and pictures, Newcastle

Seven Stories, Newcastle

More fun inspired by favourite fictional characters is on hand at Seven Stories, the Newcastle gallery dedicated to the art of children's books. Half-term kicks off with a Doctor Dolittle weekend, where some of the cast of the musical (at Whiteley Bay Playhouse from 3 November) will bring the stories to life. Later in the week, the Spellbinding Storyparty will feature tales, games and songs inspired by witches and wizards (25 and 27 October; £2.50, under-fours free, booking essential); an after-hours tour of the new Daydreams and Diaries exhibition ends with cake in the Artists' Attic (25 October, £5, age 8+): and a Horrid Henry Halloween Party invites little ones to dress their "mummy" and guess what's in the coffin (26 and 28 October, £3, booking essential). • 30 Lime Street, Ouseburn Valley, 0845 271 0777, sevenstories.org.uk

Birds of prey and creepy crawlies, Surrey

Denbies Wine Estate near Dorking is the largest vineyard in England but there's a lot more to it than necking Surrey Gold. This half-term, birds of prey will be on display (23 October, noon, free admission); there'll be spooky story telling (25 October, 11.30am and 2.30pm, free admission); the Bullfrog youth theatre company will be presenting their adaption of Alice in Wonderland (26 October, 11am & 2pm, children £6.50, accompanying adults £2.50, booking essential), and a creepy crawlie road show will make parents' skin crawl but no doubt delight children as they get a chance to handle snakes and tarantulas (28 October, 11am and 2pm, children £6.50, adults free). • London Road, Dorking, 01306 876 616, denbies.co.uk

See the seals on Ramsey Island, Pembrokeshire

Photograph: Alamy

In autumn, Ramsey's community of Atlantic grey seals give birth to more than 400 white-coated pups on the shores of the island, an RSPB reserve. Take a boat trip around the island to view the seals and other wildlife from sea level, or walk the three-and-a-half-mile trail among the coastal heathland and enjoy spectacular views from the 120m cliffs. •visitpembrokeshire.com, daily until 31 October. Boats depart St Justinians at 10am and noon, returning at 4pm; adults £15, children £7.50

Meet the Royal Navy and the RAF, Hampshire and Shropshire

Submarines are spooky enough with their eerie sounds and lighting, but this half-term second world war-era HMS Alliance at the Royal Navy Submarine Musuem in Gosport, Hampshire (submarine-museum.co.uk), will be scarier still with a "spooky tour" and a chance to meet the captain, who will let you in on some tall tales of life below the waves. Free with a valid museum ticket (adults £10, children £7, under-fives free) 27-30 October.

Meanwhile, those interested in airborne action should make a beeline for the Royal Air Force Museum (01902 376200, rafmuseum.org.uk) at Cosford in Shropshire for its Helicopter Half Term. Take a look inside a replica air ambulance and watch a real (Sea King) helicopter land; older kids will love the chance to talk to air ambulance and search and rescue crew, and flight engineers and technical sergeants who have logged time on the Sikorsky MH-53 helicopter on display. • Sessions with the search and rescue team and the air ambulance crew will take place from 11am-1pm and 2-4pm each week day and will be located in Hangar 1. Entry to the event and to the rest of the museum is free

Learn to draw, nationwide

Photograph: David Levene

Galleries and museums across the country are taking part in the Big Draw. At Tate Liverpool, children are invited to create their own art from the collection by taking transparent drawings which they then turn into 3D wire structures (tate.org.uk, all week, 1.30-4.30pm, free, age five-plus). And at the Cartoon Museum in London (020-7580 8155, cartoonmuseum.org, workshops free, booking essential) you can find out how cartoonist Sally Kindberg creates her comic strips (22 October) and comic artist Steve Marchant will teach you how to draw cartoons (23 October). There should be a project near you to inspire the little artists in your family •Find events near you at campaignfordrawing.org/bigdraw (until 31 October)

The sky at night, Northumberland

Photograph: Mark Pinder

The skies above Kielder Forest are the darkest in Britain, and on 26 October there's a chance for families to join experts in viewing them through the Kielder Observatory's telescopes. You may be lucky enough to catch the tail end of Orionid's meteor shower display; if not, you are sure to see some spectacular sights on this moonless night. The evening event includes a talk, a tour of the observatory and, of course, the chance to gaze upon distant galaxies or universes that formed billions of light years ago. •kielderobservatory.org, or contact Gary on 07805 638469, 8-11pm, £8

Off to be the wizard, Leicestershire

Harry Potter may have hung up his wand for the final time this summer, but wizard wannabes can try their hand at mixing magic potions at the National Space Centre's School of Wizardry over half-term. The idea is that kids will "discover the magic of science" through the Halloween Wizardry programme, as boffins teach them the secrets of disappearing water and they try their hand at exploding bubbles and changing liquids. Classes run throughout the day and are included in the admission price. Bridget, the Nasa ExoMars mission test robot, will also be visiting the centre between 26 and 29 October, and will drive across a simulated Martian surface. •spacecentre.co.uk, adults £13, children (5-16) £11, under-5s free. With Giftaid entry, visitors receive a free annual pass

The Eden Project's big chill, Cornwall

Eden Project, Halloween

The Eden Project, whose rainforest biome domes normally bask in tropical temperatures, will feel a chill wind next week as the ice rink returns, decorated for Halloween. Over half-term the site will feature a wishcraft tent with pumpkin carving demonstrations, wand making and potion mixing. And on Friday 28 and Saturday 29 October you can shake your bones at the Little Monsters' Ball, a family disco with fancy dress. • 01726 811972, edenproject.com. Adults/children £22/£8.50 on the door or £18.70-£19.80/free-£8.50 if booked online, under-fours free; 40-minute skate sessions £5pp; Monsters' Ball (6pm to 9pm), £7 per ticket, plus £2 for a 20-minute skate